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- A mind for math: A part of the brain associated with making memories may also predict success in learning math
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FOR KIDS: Fooling the mind’s eye
Brain scientists find they have much to learn from magicians and their tricks
Web edition: September 20, 2012
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Tricks rely on gaps in our perception and endure because the vulnerability of our mind is so predictable.
Suslik1983/shutterstock
Scientists who study the brain have been tapping into the world of magic to learn how its tricks fool our minds. Emerging in just the past five years, this new discipline is often called neuromagic.
Neuroscientists and psychologists study how the mind works and how emotions can affect our responses. These scientists have begun teaming up with magicians to study how tricks can manipulate critical attention and awareness. This research is beginning to give scientists a window into how the mind could be influenced for more than entertainment — such as improving driver safety or classroom education.
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